Lzh Mu Bi Vb Pc 91Cursing Another

Discourse on Cursing Another (Paraabhisapana)

Background

The Paraabhisapana Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, in the Pātimokkha, the collection of basic regulations and instructions for the monastic community. The content of this discourse concerns the act of cursing, criticizing, or insulting others, especially in the context of the community of practice.

The discourse was established based on an event witnessed by the Buddha Śākyamuni, when monastics, during arguments or unfair dealings, used harsh words, attacking one another’s dignity, ability, or morality. This conduct creates division in the community, harms faith, and destroys harmony in the Saṅgha.

Main Content

The Paraabhisapana Sutta states that a monk or nun should not beg for, invoke, or wish that others in the community meet with evil, sickness, suffering, or loss. More specifically, insulting, criticizing, or making negative vows concerning others is regarded as a violation of one of the prohibitions in the Pātimokkha.

This conduct is classified in the Pācittiya group, offenses requiring confession and necessarily public acknowledgment before the community. The Buddha emphasized that the language of a practitioner must be constructive, harmless, and reflective of compassion (mettā) as well as Right Speech (Sammā-vācā), a factor of the Noble Eightfold Path.

When a monastic violates this rule, he or she must perform confession before the Saṅgha assembly, honestly acknowledging the fault. This process is not only the correction of outward conduct, but also the rectification of the mind, removing hatred, jealousy, or arrogance, the root causes that lead to harmful speech.

Practical Meaning

The Paraabhisapana Sutta offers a profound lesson on the power of language and intention. Practitioners recognize that every word not only affects the one to whom it is spoken, but also directly affects their own mind.